Ethanol alert…

[dt]

Here’s another alert from the AMA hot off the press, this time related to limiting Ethanol content in gas to 10%. I actually support alternative energy programs for lots of reasons, but in the case of ethanol our vehicles are not equipped for the blend. If auto/mc manufacturers designed engines to run on the stuff or the blend, I may feel differently. At 10% perhaps the affects are not that profound, but many experts say increased levels are going to ruin our motors. I already know that ethanol is causing damage to the plastic tank on my motorcycle, ‘cuz my manufacturer said so and advised staying away from it or using the lowest percentages. Also, ethanol does not reduce pollution.

Same as the kids just want to ride, the AMA makes sending a note to your representative easy. Click here:

http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Rights/IssuesLegislation.aspx

Just an FYI on this one since it’s nowhere in the alert…last month, the Senate voted overwhelming to end ethanol subsidies. Those are billions in tax payer dollars paid to (i) farmers to divert their corn away from traditional uses (such as Food!) to bio-fuel use and (ii) refiners to include ethanol in their fuel blends. The Executive Branch (aka Barak Obama) opposes the end to the subsidies and has vowed to veto the legislation. Point is, it’s pretty clear that our “non-farm-belt” politicians don’t support the subsidies that promote blending ethanol, but there’s still aways to go before it’s eliminated all together.

[bagobones]

Farm subsidies are bullshit.

[danh600]

Unless you are a farmer. 


On the subject of Ethanol. Do you guys use any kind of fuel additive to combat it's effects?
My bike if FI, my wife's bike is carburated. The tech at the dealership said I need to use an additive in her bike. He said mine was fine cause it's a closed system.

He said the carburated bikes are really having trouble cause of the hot, wet weather. Of course they were trying to sell startron fuel additive.

I have used sta-bil for years in my lawn mower gas. Also used it in the boat back when I had one.

[dt]

I don’t know too much about additives, but I did a little research this afternoon and came across a site that seems to have a lot of good information on why Ethanol is a problem for engines and use of additives to offset the effects. The interesting thing on the additives is that there are many that are alcohol-based and tend to exacerbate the ethanol problem. Links below.

Info on affect of Ethanol: http://www.fuel-testers.com/index.html
Info on additives: http://www.fuel-testers.com/fuel_additives_gas_treatments.html
Review of additives: http://www.fuel-testers.com/is_gas_additive_safe_with_e10_list.html


Much more interesting however was this quote on the second link…

“Fuels that contain ethanol have decreased efficiency and mpg….Usually E10 gasoline lowers MPG by 3 to 7% and E85 gasoline lowers MPG by about 40%.”

So let me get this straight…

> We subsidize farmers with our tax dollars to divert corn away from food production, thus increasing our and the rest of the world’s food costs (this has been documented).
> We further subsidize oil refiners with tax dollars to include up to 10% ethanol in their gas, thus effectively increasing the cost we pay per gallon (i.e. what we pay at the pump + what portion of our individual tax dollars go to these subsidies). Oh, and they'd like to increase it to 15%
> Then, to top all that off, according to aforementioned quote, we have to buy more of that high priced gas from those same refiners because the shit that they put in it reduces the miles that our cars get per gallon get by 7%!

Can someone please tell me what the hell is going on?   

Don't forget to do the AMA letter thing in the first post.

[dcameras]

Thanks for posting this info on the ethanol...

[dt]

FYI...

Dear William:

Thank you for contacting me to share your opposition to mandates to include ethanol in fuel.  I appreciate hearing from you.

The promotion of alternatives to petroleum, including fuel ethanol, has been an ongoing goal of U.S. energy policy.  This promotion has led to the establishment of significant federal policies beneficial to the ethanol industry, including tax incentives, import tariffs, and mandates for ethanol use.  The costs and benefits of ethanol -- and the policies that support it -- have been questioned.  Areas of concern include whether ethanol yields more or less energy than the fossil fuel inputs needed to produce it; whether ethanol decreases reliance on petroleum in the transportation sector; whether its use increases or decreases greenhouse gas emissions; and whether various federal policies should be maintained.  You may be certain that I will remember your opposition to ethanol mandates when I have an opportunity to consider any legislation pertaining to ethanol in the future.  I will also share you comments with my colleagues who serve on the House Agriculture and Energy and Commerce Committees, which have jurisdiction over this issue.  I am certain they will benefit from your views.

As a resident of Florida's Ninth District, your comments and opinions are an important source of information to help me carry out my duties as your federal representative.  In that regard, please do not hesitate to contact me in the future on any issue important to you.  Also, if you would like to be informed more frequently about my work in Congress and in Florida's Ninth Congressional District, please visit my website at http://www.bilirakis.house.gov to sign up for regular email or to send me a message.

Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.

Sincerely yours,
 
Gus M. Bilirakis
Member of Congress

[Zarticus]

 
 Here's the reply I got from congressman Richard Nugent


 


July 13, 2011




Dear Mr. Moniz,


Thank you for contacting me regarding your opposition to the use of ethanol and ethanol subsidies.  Given your interest in this issue, I wanted to let you know some of the ways I am working to oppose the needless subsidization of ethanol. 


As you may know, in February, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, a continuing resolution (CR) that would appropriate funds for the rest of FY2011.  In total, we cut over $100 billion dollars from President Obama's FY 2011 budget request.  This cut was largest single discretionary spending cut in the history of our country.  With our nation facing a deficit of $1.65 trillion for this year alone, more cuts will be necessary beyond this, but it is an appropriate start.   


In addition to the historic number of spending cuts in this legislation, H.R. 1 was the first time in the history of the United States Congress that a continuing resolution has been considered under what is called an "open rule."  This means that any member of the House of Representatives could offer an amendment to this bill, as long as the amendment was within the Rules of the House.  In total, over 580 amendments to the CR were proposed.  Among these amendments were a number related to ethanol.


The first, Amendment No. 377, introduced by Representative Jeff Flake (R-AZ.), assures that taxpayers will not be forced to pay for ethanol blender pumps or storage facilities, especially while the ethanol industry continues to benefit from unnecessary government supports like producer and blender tax credits, renewable fuel mandates and an import tariff.   Another was the Amendment No. 94, introduced by Rep. John Sullivan (R-Ok).  This amendment stops the Environmental Protection Agency from breaching the "blendwall" and allowing ethanol-gasoline blends to increase to 15 percent this year.  Ethanol blends over ten percent have not been thoroughly tested on the automobile fleet and have been found to hurt small engines (ATVs, boats, lawnmowers, jet skis, etc).  Despite these issues, EPA has approved the E15 blend for sale into the market.  I am happy to tell you that I voted for both of these important amendments.


Moving forward, rest assured that I will continue to keep your thoughts regarding ethanol in mind.  I can't effectively serve as your voice in the House of Representatives without knowing what issues matter most to you, so I truly appreciate hearing from you.  To that end, I hope you will continue to keep in touch.  You can find all of my contact information for both my Washington, D.C. and Florida offices on my website, http://nugent.house.gov.  While there, I hope you will also consider registering for my newsletter, "the SITREP."  This weekly "situation report" is my way of providing everybody with a quick update on the most recent legislation being considered in Congress.  It's short and to the point - all fact, no fluff.





Sincerely,

Richard Nugent
Member of Congress
 

[dt]

I like your letter better than my letter. 

[dt]

Updated info on E15 earlier this week in McUSA...Click.

See first post. Send your letters...

[dt]

I don't know who's winning or losing the E15 war, but the fight continues. I received another AMA Alert today. This particular alert relates to a proposal for an independent study on the affects of E15. Click the link below and be heard. Thx...

http://capwiz.com/amacycle/issues/alert/?alertid=54681921&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

Remember...

The model form letter that the AMA tosses out can be modified. Now that Gus and I are on a first name basis with all these letters I've sent ...  ... mine was substantially modified.